Chris Martins

October 4, 2013 –
Yo La Tengo have had a hankering for youth of late. In honor of their most recent album Fade, the Hoboken indie OGs shared a pair of videos that, respectively, paid tribute to the oddball animation of Yellow Submarine ("Ohm") and took viewers back to school, dry-erase board and all ("Is That Enough"). Now, fans will be able to own tiny colorful cartoon versions of Ira Kaplan, Georgia Hubley, and James McNew thanks to a collaboration between the band's label Matador Records, boutique toymaker PressPop, and artist Jim Woodring.On November 19, fans will be able to purchase the three vinyl dolls as a set that also comes with a DVD featuring a five-minute animation called "Tree" also conceived by Woodring.

October 4, 2013 –
UPDATE: Kuma's Corner has issued a statement in response to complaints about the October-exclusive menu item. They've also made a $1,500 donation to the Catholic Charities of the Chicago Archdiocese "as we understand that they share our mentality of serving anyone in need from any walk of life." Read the entire open letter below.Ghost B.C. aren't afraid of a good gimmick, and likely realize there's much more to shocking people than simply being ... shocking (ahem, Miley Cyrus). You want to get people right where they live — deliver a jolt straight to the gut — and what better way to hit that mark then to aim at the exact intersection of food and faith. The Ghoulish-Swedish doom band now has its very own burger at Chicago beef-merchant Kuma's Corner.

October 4, 2013 –
Over the year-plus that he's been dating Kim Kardashian, Kanye West has understandably made it a point to avoid appearing on E!'s reality show about her family, Keeping Up With the Kardashians. But as the two became parents during the taping of the currently airing eighth season, the Yeezus auteur and his girlfriend have been very much entangled. While West has limited his appearances to the occasional physical cameo thus far, his name has been all over the show, and now Vulture has hilariously cobbled together every single moment that Ye's essence has been summoned. They dub the in-absentia musical megastar "Ghost Kanye," as the constant invocation of West's handle makes him seem like a mere braggadocious figment of Kim's imagination. "Where's Kanye?" indeed...

October 4, 2013 –
Lorde's "Royals" just became the biggest song in the country, making the 16-year-old artist the youngest Hot 100 chart-topper since Tiffany scored in 1987. Her Pure Heroine LP debut may not be perfect, but the power of that song is undeniable, and an ace songsmith like recent SPIN interview subject Mayer Hawthorne would be a fool to deny it. So instead, the man is here to "funk it up." Celebrating his freshly released album, Where Does This Door Go, the Detroit-bred soul man covered "Royals" for VEVO's "Unexpected Covers" series, enlisting his full band to give the electronipop delight an afterhours jazz rebirth. The groove is undeniable and the four-part harmonies are divine. Bear witness above, and read our interview with Lorde to find out who's been inspiring her along the way.

October 4, 2013 –
Just over a month ago, Fiona Apple made headlines following an incident at a Fashion Week event in Tokyo in which she reportedly walked off stage when the crowd refused to, in her alleged words, "shut the fuck up." While the ever-Essential-making Idler Wheel artist had a bone to pick with our coverage of (Women's Wear Daily's coverage of) that event, a new episode has taken place which confirms what we already knew: that this sort of behavior is sadly not out-of-character for the 36-year-old performer.As reported, quite delicately, by both Stereogum and The Oregonian, Apple and her current touring partner Blake Mills played a wonderful tour-opening show last night (October 3) at Portland, Oregon's Newmark Theatre, but the concert ended in ignominy on all all sides when a heckler attacked the headliner's physical appearance.

October 4, 2013 –
Prince is on a roll. (Though, when is he not?) Of late, His Purpleness has been funking with Janelle Monae, winning the Internet with a Dave Chappelle assist, and imbuing Twitter with "Groovy Potential." Now he's opening up the gates of his Paisley Park live-work(-play) complex to the public for a concert featuring both of his bands: 3rdEyeGirl and the recently reunited New Power Generation. According to the Minneapolis City Pages, the show will feature a 20-piece ensemble, 11 of which will be brass.In the pricelessly Web 1.0 video invite below, Prince lets us know: "Limited Entry... Get Here Early! And Bring Your Dancing Shoes!!!" Doors open at 9 p.m. on Saturday, October 5, and no cell phones will be allowed to get through.

October 4, 2013 –
Cool Kids co-founder Chuck Inglish has got a full-length debut on deck for the new year — Convertibles, due February 11 on Dave Sitek's Federal Prism label. But first comes the Easily EP, a star-studded selection of characteristically clean bangers that show off the MC's laid-back but razor-sharp microphone skills. Semi-titular track "Came Thru/Easily" might be the most exemplary, presenting the Detroit-born, Los Angeles-dwelling rhymer alongside Black Hippy star Ab-Soul and the newly cool (truly) Mac Miller. None fails to deliver, and the production is inspired, moving from minimal percussive work to wavy psychedelia.

October 4, 2013 –
Gloom Balloon are full of surprises, but the subject matter of "She Was the One That Got Away" is not one of them. The track below is an epistolary song dedicated to a former lover, rich in personal detail, brimming with sad humor, and full of tangible regret. But it's the rest that blindsides the listener in such a totally welcome way. First, the titular line is given a nearly gospel treatment for the chorus. Second, there's the saxophone and flute dancing all over the backing beat.

October 3, 2013 –
Trouble just seems to follow Rick Ross wherever he goes. If it's not a massive criminal organization with chapters in just about any city the former correctional officer would likely play, it's something to do with molly or money. In June, the Maybach Music Group bawse was sued by a Rolex dealer who claimed Ricky Rozay hadn't paid his bling bill. Now, TMZ reports that the man and his labelmates are the targets of yet another lawsuit, this time stemming from a London concert cancellation.MMG members Ross, Meek Mill, Wale, Omarion, and Stalley were booked to play Wembley Arena on September 12, 2012, but allegedly pulled out with plans to reschedule. The promoter claims each was paid a sizable advance, plus were the beneficiaries of other non-refundable expenses (such as travel) that had already been paid for.

October 3, 2013 –
Thom Yorke has once again taken aim at Spotify in response to a phenomenon in streaming audio that the Radiohead and Atoms for Peace frontman says is "bad for new music." He and producer/bandmate Nigel Godrich shard their complaints 140 characters at a time via Twitter back in July, pulling their various non-Radiohead catalogs from the service in the process. But in a new entrevista with Mexico's Sopitas, Yorke elaborates at length."I feel like the way people are listening to music is going through this big transition," he begins, as Consequence of Sound reports. "I feel like as musicians we need to fight the Spotify thing.